Manchester United legend Scholes was interviewed by club officials this week as the hunt for a new permanent boss continues.

Wellens trained alongside the Old Trafford star when a youngster at the club in the late 1990s.

Though he wants the top job himself, having earned three straight wins while in temporary control, he admits that it would be an honour to serve under Scholes on the staff in the event that the unlikely move to pull him in at SportsDirect.com Park comes off.

“Paul Scholes to me is a legend,” Wellens said. “When I started watching football there was Bryan Robson, Paul Gascoigne, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. They were my heroes growing up as a young professional.

“Having seen Scholes very close at hand, ability-wise he is probably the best I’ve ever seen. Along with Steven Gerrard he is the midfielder of his generation.

“I don’t know what Paul’s situation is with his television work. But he’s a great figure around here and I would love to have him in.

Scholes and Wellens.

“It is about what Paul decides, whether he wants to be a manager and where he would take that first step.

“We will let the people at the club who make the decisions decide. I am aware that they have interviewed Paul so if he wants to take it, then he has that decision to make.

“In terms of a name, there is nobody better.”

Wellens said that the issue of outstanding player wages for September had now been settled.

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Ahead of the home game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, which he will take charge of, he also warned that amid a background of a possible takeover by investor Abdallah Lemsagam he would not accept any mitigating factors for non-performances from his side.

“Players can use any excuse they can not to perform, but I get across to them there are no excuses,” Wellens added.

“If there is something going on in the background, like wages which have all been paid now, you can’t control it.